Device for installing and removing fluorescent light tubes



April 21, 1964 G. A ST. JOHN 3,129,970

DEVICE FOR INSTALLING AND REMOVING FLUORESCENT LIGHT TUBES Filed Feb. 12, 1962 INVENTOR. GLEN A. ST. JOHN awn. 5mm

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,129,970 DEVICE FOR INSTALLING AND REMOVING FLUGRESCENT LIGHT TUBES Glen A. St. John, 2134 SE. Harney, Fortland, Greg. Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,456 2 Claims. (Cl. 294-26) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in holders and more particularly is concerned with a holder adapted to engage fluorescent light tubes for the purpose of installing and removing them from light sockets.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a holder of the type described employing a resilient connection between a tube holder portion thereof and a support ng handle wherein the device is more manipulable than prior devices, as well as more capable of clampingly engaging fluorescent light tubes without damaging them.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the type described which is simple in construction and therefore inexpensive to manufacture, which has a minimum number of parts for easy operation and which is strong and durable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of the type described and resilient inserts for use therewith for accommodating smaller than average diameter fluorescent light tubes.

Briefly stated, the device of the present invention is adapted for use with single pin type fluorescent light tubes and comprises a tube holding portion having a pair of channel members one of which is secured rigidly to a base support and the other of which is pivoted on said base support and cooperative with the rigid channel member for engaging a light tube therebctween, the pivoted channel member being spring pressed toward the rigid channel member. In a preferred arrangement the tube holding portion is disposed in a plane normal to the base support and the channel members are arranged to provide a top opening upon pivoted movement of the pivoted member. A handle is mounted pivotally on the base support and arranged for pivotal movement in a direction longitudinally of the channel members.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects thereof will become more apparent from the ac companying specification and claims considered together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fluorescent light tube holder embodying features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of an insert member which is designed for use with the present device for accommodating smaller than average fluorescent light tubes.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the present device employs a tube holding portion comprising an inverted channel-like base support 1%) having as an integral part thereof a first clamping jaw or gripping member 12 which in a preferred arrangement is of substantially semicircular shape and which is supported in an upright edge position whereby the opening thereof faces horizontally.

Cooperating with the stationary clamping member 12 is a pivoted clamping jaw 14 which is also of substantially semi-circular shape and faces horizontally the opening of member 12. This latter clamping member has a laterally projecting plate 18 with inwardly bent cars 20 pivotally mounted on a shaft 22 supported in cars 24 forming an integral part of the base support 19. In a preferred arrangement a pair of the cars 24 is provided 3,129,970 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 "ice on the base support and the plate 18 also employs a pair of the ears 2% which lie in close position along the ears 24 whereby to stabilize the plate 18 and clamping member 14 with regard to the stationary clamping member 12.

A torsion spring 26 is mounted on the shaft 22 and has one end extension engageable with the plate 18 and an opposite end extension engageable with the base support 10 whereby to bias the clamping member 14 into a normal closed position against stationary clamping member 12.

Plate 18 has a projection 30 which preferably is curved in lateral cross section to give it longitudinal rigidity.

The tube holder portion thus described is pivotally supported on a handle 32 through the intermediary of a pivot pin 34 extending through the leg portions of channelshaped support 10 and the handle. Thus it will be apparent that the light tube holder portion of the present device is adapted to pivot relative to the handle.

To stabilize the tube holder portion on the handle but yet to allow pivotal movement thereof a pair of tension springs 36 are connected between the stationary clamping members 12 and a lower portion of the handle. Thus, said tube holder portion is disposed normally in a plane substantially normal to the -handle but if necessary it can pivot relative to the handle whereby to accommodate engagement of a light tube from angular directions. Not only does such resilient adjustment means provide for easier gripping of light tubes from angular positions but also eliminates damage to the tubes which may occur when approaching from an angular direction.

A pull rope 38 is attached to the extension 30 and extends downwardly along the handle 32 after first passing through a pulley 41 preferably located substantially directly inwardly on the handle relative to the lower edge of extension 39, whereby the pull is directly inwardly toward the handle when tension is applied to the pull rope.

The inner channel faces of the tube clamping members 12 and 14 are provided with a resilient pad or cushion 42 to prevent damage to the light tubes as well as to provide a good frictional grip thereon.

Although the present device may accommodate most conventional sizes of fluorescent light tubes, some tubes may be so small as not to be capable of engagement between the clamping members 12, 14-. For this purpose it is within the purview of the present invention to provide resilient inserts 44, FIGURE 3, which are semi-circular or channel shaped and which have doubled back upper and lower edges as spaced from the channel portions thereof whereby to grip removably longitudinally edges of clamping members 12, 14 therebetween. Thus, inserts 44 reduce the diameter of the clamping area of members 12, 14 and are capable of gripping small light tubes. Inserts 44 need not be of a length corresponding to the length of the clamping members but may merely comprise strips of for example 1 inch and provided one on each end of each of the clamping members. These inserts are readily attached and removed as needed.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a fluorescent light tube holder which is simple in structure and operation and therefore inexpensive to manufacture.

The device is readily used from angular directions as pointed out heretofore and eliminates damage to tubes when approaching from such angular directions.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for engaging fluorescent light tubes for moving the tubes into and out of light sockets, comprising a handle, a base support, means pivotally interconnecting said base support laterally on one end of said handle and arranged to permit pivotal movement of the base support in either direction relative to the handle, a pair of arcuate clamping jaws on said base support for receiving a light tube therebetween, one of said jaws being stationary and the other jaw being hingedly connected to the base support for movement to a closed position relative to the stationary'jaw and an open light tube receiving position, spring means engageable with said hinged jaw for normally maintaining the latter'in closed position, resilient meansengageable with said base support for maintaining the latter in a right angle position relative to the handle but allowing it to pivot in either direction, said resilient means being arranged to allow pivotal movement of said base support by interengagement of the latter with a light tube, and means connected to said hinged jaw for opening the latter against the force of said spring means.

2. The device of claim 1 including resilient inserts constructed and arranged for removable attachment in the clamping jaws, said inserts being arranged to reduce the light tube opening between said clamping jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A DEVICE FOR ENGAGING FLUORESCENT LIGHT TUBES FOR MOVING THE TUBES INTO AND OUT OF LIGHT SOCKETS, COMPRISING A HANDLE, A BASE SUPPORT, MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID BASE SUPPORT LATERALLY ON ONE END OF SAID HANDLE AND ARRANGED TO PERMIT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE BASE SUPPORT IN EITHER DIRECTION RELATIVE TO THE HANDLE, A PAIR OF ARCUATE CLAMPING JAWS ON SAID BASE SUPPORT FOR RECEIVING A LIGHT TUBE THEREBETWEEN, ONE OF SAID JAWS BEING STATIONARY AND THE OTHER JAW BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE BASE SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT TO A CLOSED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE STATIONARY JAW AND AN OPEN LIGHT TUBE RECEIVING POSITION, SPRING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HINGED JAW FOR NORMALLY MAINTAINING THE LATTER IN CLOSED POSITION, RESILIENT MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BASE SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING THE LATTER IN A RIGHT ANGLE POSITION RELATIVE TO THE HANDLE BUT ALLOWING IT TO PIVOT IN EITHER DIRECTION, SAID RESILIENT MEANS BEING ARRANGED TO ALLOW PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BASE SUPPORT BY INTERENGAGEMENT OF THE LATTER WITH A LIGHT TUBE, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID HINGED JAW FOR OPENING THE LATTER AGAINST THE FORCE OF SAID SPRING MEANS. 